Daniel Radcliffe Chats With Trans, Nonbinary Youth in Trevor Project Series

On Friday, which marks Transgender Day of Visibility, the Trevor Project will launch Sharing Space, a YouTube roundtable series featuring conversations with LGBTQ+ youth moderated by curious, open-minded adults and allies.

The first episode will be moderated by Daniel Radcliffe, a longtime supporter of the Trevor Project. Premiering at noon Friday, it “features six transgender and nonbinary young people who sit down with Radcliffe to have a candid, vulnerable, and illuminating conversation about their personal journeys and unique lived experiences,” notes a Trevor Project press release. “An advocate for LGBTQ rights, Radcliffe helps facilitate a heartfelt discussion exploring topics such as gender euphoria, respecting pronouns, self-discovery, and what genuine allyship looks like.”

In the release, Radcliffe remarked, “We listen to so many people talk about trans youth and hear them talked about so often in the news, but very rarely do we actually hear from these youth directly. It was an absolute privilege to get to meet and listen to this incredible group of young people. At the end of the day, if you’re going to talk about trans kids, it might be useful to actually listen to trans kids.”

Radcliffe’s support of the Trevor Project dates back over a decade, when the actor starred in a public service announcement to raise awareness of the organization’s free and confidential crisis services. In 2011, he was honored with the Trevor Hero Award at the annual TrevorLIVE gala, where he gave an impassioned speech to LGBTQ+ young people going through their darkest moments. In 2020, he responded to anti-trans tweets by J.K. Rowling, the creator of his most famous character, Harry Potter, with a heartfelt essay supporting trans people that was posted by the Trevor Project.

The series comes as a record number of anti-LGBTQ bills, the majority of which target trans and nonbinary young people, are being introduced and considered in states across the country. Trans and nonbinary youth already face disproportionate levels of victimization, violence, and suicide risk, and according to the Trevor Project’s research, 86 percent of them have negatively impacted their mental health. Also as a result of these policies and debates in the past year, 45 percent of trans youth experienced cyberbullying, and nearly one in three reported not feeling safe to go to the doctor or hospital when they were sick or injured.

Sharing Space premieres shortly after the launch of another Trevor Project series, Learn With Love, which highlights the stories of three transgender young people and the adults who came to love and accept them. Both Sharing Space and Learn With Love are designed to be episodic and chronicle the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people through their own words. The Trevor Project describes Sharing Space as “an uplifting series in which viewers can walk away with a more positive understanding of the trans experience.”

“Our goal in developing this kind of content is to turn the microphone toward LGBTQ young people themselves and let them speak directly about their lives, which they know best,” Megan Stowe, vice president of brand and content at the Trevor Project, said in the release. “LGBTQ young people, particularly transgender and nonbinary youth, are routinely forced to stand by and watch adults debate their very existence and life experiences. Our society has created boxes that young people are expected to fit into, when we should be giving them the space and autonomy to figure out who they are on their own. That’s why it’s so important that we continue to amplify young LGBTQ voices that are so often silenced, and work towards creating a safer, more accepting world where they can thrive just as they are.”

The Trevor Project intends to release several episodes of Sharing Space throughout the year, and each episode will feature a different theme, different host, and different group of LGBTQ+ young people. Viewers can sign up to watch the premiere of the first episode on the Trevor Project’s YouTube channel. Watch the trailer below.

Sharing Spaces - Episode 1: Daniel Radcliffe | Trailerwww.youtube.com

The Trevor Project is the nation's leading suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ+ youth.

If you are having thoughts of suicide or are concerned that someone you know may be, resources are available to help. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 is for people of all ages and identities. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.